enage2014: the art of engaging millennials - lee mcenany caraher, doubleforte

ONE VIEWPOINT

“The children now love luxury; they have bad

manners, contempt for authority; they show

disrespect for elders and love chatter in place

of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the

servants of their households. They no longer

rise when elders enter the room. They

contradict their parents, chatter before

company, gobble up dainties at the table,

cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

Socrates, 470BC – 399BC

COMMON THEMES: MILLENNIALS:

1. Are entitled

2. Expect rewards and promotions for

showing up

3. Don’t work hard

4. Can’t get anything done

5. Are casual and disrespectful

6. Want freedom, flexibility and work-life

balance

7. Have helicopter parents

MILLENNIALS AT A GLANCE

Millennials Biggest Generation

Three Distinct Groups 28-34yrs born during recession; entered labor market

after 9/11

22-27yrs entered or tried to enter job market during Great Recession

14-21yrs face very different world than 34 yr olds

36% Millennials 18-31 live at home

18% college graduates live at home

16% 25-31 yr olds/56% 18-24 yr olds

29% employed Millennials live at home

Most educated in American History

0

50

100

Population

Boomers

GenX

Millennials

77M

RAISED DIFFERENTLY

Full-Life approach

Digitally Native Time Shifting

The World is Flat Parent Trap

MILLENNIALS:

1. Are entitled – CONDITIONED

2. Expect rewards and promotions for showing up -

YES

3. Don’t work hard – WORK DIFFERENTLY

4. Can’t get anything done – LOOKS DIFFERENT

5. Are casual and disrespectful – DON’T KNOW

BETTER

6. Want freedom, flexibility and work-life balance -YES

7. Have helicopter parents – SOME DO

CONFIDENT

THE MIND-SET

Capable

Contributors

Change

Makers

MILLENNIALS

AT WORK WANTMeaningful

Work

Opportunity

Constant

Dialogue

Full-Life

VISION MATTERS: ME, TEAM, COMPANY

“Just Because” Doesn’t Work Anymore

“Why am I doing this? Why will it matter? Who else is

involved? How does this fit into the rest of the

project? What deadlines matter, why? Who is

depending on the team? On me?”

If you do NOTHING else,

make sure your managers are setting up

projects and assignments with LOTS of

context and color BEFORE they start

POWER OF INPUT

“Anyone who has an idea is heard … I finally found the

right job.”

Liz, age 27

Solicit Ideas at the Beginning

Annual Surveys

Open Office

Availability

Feedback

IMPROVING THE PROCESS

Millennials want to do things their way….LET

THEM

Guidelines, Context, Deadlines

And if it’s really important :

“Do it my way first please and

improve on it.”

PROTECT YOUR CULTURE

Define • Values, Norms, Behavior, Language

Socialize & Reinforce• Meetings, emails, handbook, onboarding, redirect

Protect It• If someone doesn’t get on board they need to go

EVERYONE will thank you

CATERING ISN’T CAVING

If you adjust to attract,

keep and nurture Millennials

EVERYONE wins.